Cuba has always been a place of escape and once opportunity. For me, it is a country that stole my heart. For those who live there thou its not such an easy love affair, their hardship often hidden through their smiles and laughter. In fact, their everyday struggles are stupendous and unsurmountable, which, if you ask me, is what makes the Cuban spirit so alluring and nostalgic and gives it what we see as an outsider, as strength and courage to persevere no matter what is simply beautiful.
The day started with churros and coffee at a local street market, still slightly cloudy, I’m still feeling a bit uneasy thou spurred on by my travel partner. We found ourselves meandering the coble stone streets of Havana, back from a trip to Cay coco. Cuba is certainly built around its tourism/military operations. A massive Trump travel ban caused some conflict at the time of our own trip and left the streets pretty empty. I could only imagine how difficult covid could have been for the country. I did, however, learn that the average cuban salary is roughly between $80 to $140 monthly, which is a crime and moderatd by the government, considering how they’re are forced to work to earn a decent wage, education sometimes is the only life raft offered. So if you get a chance to boost the economy with travel I highly recommend Cuba, rather than that boring disney cruise you take again and again. The small souvenirs priceless reminders of a world lost in a time capsule, a lifeline for the average Cubano during these uncertain times. The guys out in Cuba trying to cook good food and educate people around them through good nutrition and imagination are the true champion of this struggle and need a voice and platform, but sadly are left doing all the hard work witout any praise, simply just for the love of cooking and providing a service to the community, which is originally what it ment to put on a jacket. Which is in essence , what I believe makes hospitality such a beautiful and alluring career path still. However in Cuba its more of a military approach, unless you find gems like Salcipizza in Havana. Which I highly recommend if you’re looking for good quality ingredients and a world class chef and friend.
When things don’t add up, you tend to ask yourself why? Sometimes it can just be timing, sometimes it can be based on environment ,however when this does happen, you simply just have to trust in the system…. f#ck that if you ask me. I never believed in the system, and neither should you. Communism is a failed system, cause of corruption and greed, but in all honesty, you could say that about Democracy aswell. Fear is the tool used by the state to keep everyone at bay. Stereotyping forced onto a canvas, to paint the lines for an injust society to tell you what you should be or what you shouldn’t, Labeled to conform, it is such a cliche but the current rage around the world, not just here in Cuba. Your average Cuban is extremely skilled and intelligent, sadly just as oppressed if not more than others,trapped between the agendas of politicians, trying to cement their legacy. Cubans suffer and its sad to see otherwise.
As I stumbled into the dark ,I held onto her hips tightly as she shoved me into a dark corner. Screams and laughter could be heard as the count down began. Our lips cemented as we ushered in the New year, Dancing and laughing the night away,under the humid Cuban night sky. We were at the national museum of modern and contemporary art, thou nothing contemporary about the evening, all the trills and shenanigans were put out to entertain us. After hours of painting the town red our hands remained embarrassed together, we jumped into a black custom Model T Ford,our Taxi driver sped down the Malècon towards the hotel as we watched the waves hit the shore wall. Our smiles etched in one another arms.
You can’t choose your family but you can certainly choose your friends, I’m told. I am really lucky to have such amazing friends and an incredible family. My heart will always be in Cuba thou. Love can do so many things, thou if you ask me, love is about nurturing and caring, naturally if you love something you would want to see it to grow and be free. However one’s beauty is always revealed when one is free and for me that is like poetry in motion a rare occurrence, a dance that can be awfully lonely and heartbreaking, yet beautiful and still, sad and un-comparable, scribbled down to form a few words, that now salsa throughout the stormy evening into my head, a dance that can last an eternity, akin to the Cubano Spirit, strong, mysterious and misunderstood, a story now etched in time, which I find myself being grateful to have once read and tried to understand.